New Whale Species in the Gulf of Mexico

A whale long known to inhabit the Gulf of Mexico, believed since 1965 to be a subspecies of the Bryde’s whale, was identified last year as a separate species, Rice’s whale (Balaenoptera ricei). It soon may be extinct. Read my piece about it here. 

Tracking whales to prevent ship strikes

 Collisions with ships are a leading cause of death for large whales worldwide. Whale Safe, a technology created by the Marine Mammal Center and UCSB’s Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, can let ship crews know when whales are present so they can slow down, which dramatically reduces the risk of fatal collisions. Read more here.